turn, he let
Smiley Jim out of the basement, and the dog ran around the house, quite
excited, with so many people around.

The young people decided that it might be one of the guests trying to
fool the others.

"But I don't believe it," said Bet emphatically.

The gown chosen for Laura Sands was an old French costume and when the
girls dressed her she looked like a queen.

"Why girls, she looks exactly like a picture of Marie Antoinette, don't
you think so, Bet?" called Kit.

"And I know just the thing to make it perfect."

"The fan! She must carry the queen's fan!"

"Oh Bet, I wouldn't do that! You know your father prizes that fan so
much."

"He won't care. Anyway, Laura will be careful."

Bet ran up stairs to her father's den, rummaged in the drawers and
found the fan.

"Here, Laura, you may carry this, but be very careful for it's one of
my father's treasures. He loves that fan."

"Oh I'll be careful. Isn't it beautiful!"

"If I were you, Laura, I'd take a few turns around the rooms, show off
the fan and then put it away. It's an antique and I know it's
valuable."

It was Phil Gordon who spoke, as he examined the fan and returned it to
her.

But Laura did not seem to realize that the fan had any great value.
Phil picked it up several times when she had left it carelessly on
chairs or tables, and after it had been lost and found several times,
he refused to give it back to her.

In the midst of the gaiety, Joy ran into the room, pale with fright.
"I don't think it's fair," she complained. "One of the boys was hiding
in the hall, and frightened me."

"Who was it?" demanded Bet indignantly.

"I don't know," replied Joy. "He ran down the hall as fast as he could
go."

"Let's find him," exclaimed Phil Gordon.

"And if it's one of the boys we'll send him home," said Bob.

"I wish you would." Bet was troubled. With her father away, she felt
that the young people should not take advantage in that way.

But they could not find anyone in the rooms.

"Maybe you just imagined it, Joy," said brother.

"No, I don't think she did. I heard a noise a little while ago when I
put the fan away. I thought at the time it was Smiley Jim."

"When was that?" asked Bet.

"About fifteen minutes ago, I left the fan on top of your father's
desk, Bet."

"All right, Phil. But I'd certainly like to know who is prowling
around."

"It's probably one of the boys from the village who didn't get an
inv